Under different circumstances, I would vote otherwise. But I'm not running just a Doc fan site here, but Doc advocacy site. I started it to get Dr. Strange the attention and treatment he deserves from his Marvel masters. So my goal is to incorporate as much of the Dr. Strange canon as I can into my five votes, to try and best represent his origins and his powers, the other characters with whom he interacts best (Spider-Man, Dormammu, Clea, and Baron Mordo), and his very best creators (Lee, Ditko, and Stern)- and squeeze in some personal inclinations as well. I make no claim that this is "The Best of Dr. Strange" or "The Best of Marvel." So, without further adieu:

Doctor Strange #169 (June 1968)
The full-issue-sized solid retelling of his origin by Thomas and Adkins.

Amazing Spider-Man Annual #2 (1965)
Spider-Man is definitely another favorite character of mine, and Doc-Spidey team-ups tend to be pretty good. Lee and Ditko shine here.

What If #40: What If Dr. Strange Had Never Become Master of the Mystic Arts?
First, this book is a personal vote. It's dated August 1983, the same as Alpha Flight #1, when I started my hardcore collecting phase of my childhood. This book was my first exposure to Dr. Strange, and I believe it instills a lot of interest, appreciation and respect for the character. Gillis and Guice spin a good yarn overviewing much of Doctor Strange canon. And I love What If. Probably never reprinted. (Spoilers: Stephen Strange ends up saving the Earth from Dormammu anyway, through his wild talent. Duh.)

Doctor Strange #70
"Deadly Exchange," a solid one-shot Roger Stern story, April 1985. The pocket dimension of Kobar steals a nuclear weapon from Earth, so Doc shows them in their minds exactly what a nuclear weapon does. Great anti-nuke angle. Many nice, competent uses of his spells. Probably never reprinted.

Dr. Strange/Dr. Doom: Triumph and Torment Graphic Novel by Stern and Mignola.
I doubt that votes for graphic novels are acceptable- but this is hands-down one of the best stories ever produced in the Marvel Universe. If not this, then I start to break down- but I'm leaning towards Doctor Strange #3, September 1974, which in turn reprints Doc's stories in Strange Tales #126 and #127, Doc's first successful handling of Dormammu by Lee and Ditko. So, I try to bend the rules here with a reprint book. In my defense, it's a cute story, and it has been a good two decades since the stories were accessibly reprinted.

Neilalien Having Tough Time With Marvel Top 100 Vote

If I vote for Marvel's best ever, like Amazing Fantasy #15, then I vote for stuff that's been reprinted to death already. If I vote for stuff I'd like to see reprinted out of curiosity, like that silent Snake Eyes issue of GI Joe, then I'm voting for stories I've never even read and may not even like. I could vote the personal angle, like the Marvel book that began my childhood era of major collecting (Alpha Flight #1), but they won't get the votes to be reprinted. I want to vote all Dr. Strange, but can we vote for two half-issues of Strange Tales as one vote? A lot of classic Doc has been reprinted already, too. Can we vote for the Dr. Strange/Dr. Doom: Triumph and Torment one-shot graphic novel? Where are the rules to this thing? Bullocks!

Review of Defenders #2 (Spoilers)

I absolutely love this book. Having said that...

I truly enjoy Larsen's art. It's a little cartoony, especially compared to the dark ultra-realism of today's comic books- but it's fun, dynamic and a good fit for the book. (Powers comes to mind as a good book with "cartoony" art.) Chris Eliopoulos' lettering is a perfect compliment to Erik's work- I love me some good lettering.

Why the buzz about Art Adams' second cover? Don't like it. Anyway, people- we're supposed to be resisting this multiple cover crap.

It's still very early, gotta trust Kurt- but I'm still waiting to see the real costs and negatives of The Curse- we haven't seen Yandroth's brilliantly villainous intentions competently realized. The first manifestation felt to me more like a story crutch. Or even a boon for the heroes- a fancy Batmobile that gets the good guys to where the bad guys are.

The group in-fighting avoided becoming tiresome for another month- this time only because the "Touch" line was so hilarious! I laughed out loud on the subway.

Doc's actions. He did nothing. But at least it was implied that he could do a lot. He was about to simply banish the entire demon horde until a god took him out. I can accept that.

I'm starting to turn against Doc's retro look. The nostalgia has worn off. He's looking like a little weasel. Would Clea fall in love with this?

Doc's aloofness. Still not working for me in a major way. He's never been this much of an ass (BTW, Namor either- all the characters are extreme, undignified, blustery versions of themselves here). Doc is a hero who cares greatly for innocent life and has helped people who have knocked on his door with as little as bad dreams. I'm going to trust Busiek that there really is something much better and more crucial that Doc can be doing, and that he's legitimately annoyed and uninterested.

Browsing this site's archives reminded me that I was really waiting for Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Magazine at one time- because of the whole retro concept, and a Dr. Strange appearance in #3. Well, to update: the book is out, I have zero interest in it, and Doc's presence in #3 is minimal (granted, it was a nice moment to see the old masked identity again, and he at least competently rescues the other heroes in the story).

I was waiting for Spider-Man: Lifeline about the same time, for the same reasons (retro concept, Doc appearance). Well, to reiterate and contrast: #1 was excellent.

Neilalien Update

The last week has been a little bumpy for the Neilalien website, but all seems well again- and just in time for my First Blogday this week (25 February- hint hint). It was ultimately a good bumpiness- a new web host, less down time, the back-end is improved, I'm using server side includes now, and the potential for many new features and functionalities now exists. If I can only get around to reviewing Defenders #2 before #3 comes out, and voting in Marvel's Top 100- then I can take a short breather.

Recommendation: Spider-Man: Lifeline #1 (Mini-series)

This book is spinning a Spidey tale in the classic style- with some great historical elements, a couple old-school villains, many classic Spidey art-story-telling elements (like the half-Peter, half-masked faces), and an adult, old-fashioned, wise-cracking Peter Parker too. I loved it. And of course, a competent appearance by Doctor Strange (and it seems like there will be more Doc in this story).

Marvel's Top 100 Of All Time Is In Full Swing

Vote for your favorite top five Marvel Comics single issues. They'll list the top 100- and reprint the top 25. Cool. [Vote here]
We have until the end of February. I'm going to have to think about this...

Marvel Knights #9 review [Fandom]
The review is positive. I really don't see the lush environment of personalities in this book that everyone else is apparently seeing (this reviewer, in the book's letter column, etc.). Am I so wrong?
For the record, Dr. Strange is not mentioned in the review at all, confirming his non-appearance. A wasted opportunity.

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